135 Vs M135

[scarecrow]

I have read the thread on the 1M vs M135 but what about 135 Vs M135?
Is there much difference in terms of performance?
The motoring press are raving about the M135 but I don't remember the same fuss about the 135.

Have they all been suckerd by the M moniker?

[aeropilot]

scarecrow said:

The motoring press are raving about the M135 but I don't remember the same fuss about the 135.

That's because it largely went unoticed by almost everyone.

The success and publicity generated by the 1M has meant the follow-up M135 has attracted a lot more attention than the 135 did before the 1M existed.

I suspect BMW have already sold more M135 in the past few months than they have 135i Coupe's in the past few years. After selling about 500 in the first year out, they've barely sold much more than 100-150 each year since then.
For this year, 2012, BMW have sold just 40 135i in the UK.

[LukeSi]

Isn't that more because it is an outgoing model though? Majority of 135i buyers will either wait for the new coupe or go for the M135i.

[aeropilot]

LukeSi said:

Isn't that more because it is an outgoing model though? Majority of 135i buyers will either wait for the new coupe or go for the M135i.

This year yes, but 135i sales dropped off a cliff back in 2009 after the first years sales of 2007/8.

First year 07/08 sales are an almost identical number (just under 600) as the total for the next 4 years sales combined.

I still have a E82 135i over a M135 if buying mine today, even though the M135 is significantly cheaper spec for spec.

Edited by aeropilot on Friday 7th December 21:41

[gareth h]

I think economy is a big factor, I moved from an e46 m3 to a 123d coupe which has been mapped to 270ish, not really enjoying driving a diesel, the combined figure of 38-39mpg is enough to make me consider a m135

[berry100]

Think it's slightly cheaper as well while coming with leather and bluetooth as standard I believe.

[scarecrow]

So in terms of spec is the 135 far away from the M135?
Do second hand values make the 135 a viable and economical alternative?
Is it close in terms of performance?

Thanks

[aeropilot]

scarecrow said:

So in terms of spec is the 135 far away from the M135?

Not far away.

Leather and xenons are standard in the new M135, optional in the 135i (although most have had leather specced, and xenons are a common option to have been ticked)
I believe bluetooth is standard in the M135 as well.

scarecrow said:

Do second hand values make the 135 a viable and economical alternative?

Yes.

scarecrow said:

Is it close in terms of performance?

Almost nothing in it in terms of performance.

M135 by definition of being newer probably has an improved chassis setup (especially if specced with the leccy dampers)

However.... in my mind the 135i is better in other respects as it has a better feel of the hydraulic steering rack compared to the electric rack in the newer M135 and the DCT option in the later N55 engined 135i for me personally is preferable to the (albeit very good) conventional automatic ZF 8-speeder in the M135 - if a two pedal car is prefered.

[Wolands Advocate]

On the other hand, I ran a manual N54 135i for two years and now have an M135i (also manual - it's not per se that I like BMWs (although I do) but more that they are pretty much alone in allowing you to have a manual gearbox in this sort of car with this sort of engine), and would say that the M135i is comfortably the better car for the money if you are buying new. The 135i is a very underrated little car and I would recommend one every day of the week, but the new car is quicker, has better throttle response, sounds better, has a better ride, has much-improved fuel economy, is much more practical and just generally benefits from being based on a recent design, not one that dates back to 2004.

As I see it, now the only benefits that a 135i coupe offers over an M135i are:

(i) it's rather better-looking;
(ii) you can pick them up with relatively few miles for comfortably under £20k these days; and
(iii) you can get them in a much wider range of paint and leather colours (the M135i is woefully limited in this respect).

[aeropilot]

Wolands Advocate said:

but the new car .... has better throttle response, sounds better

To be fair, you'll get this with a later N55 engined 135i as well.

The M135 is certainley a bargain compared to a 135i though spec for spec.


Hope they improve the colour palette choices for the M235 when that comes out at the end of next year.

[scarecrow]

Is there really a noticeable diff in throttle response between N54 and N55?
Any other differences between the two engines in terms of performance?

Guessing the twin turbo N54 is more tuneable.

[aeropilot]

scarecrow said:

Is there really a noticeable diff in throttle response between N54 and N55?

Yes

scarecrow said:

Any other differences between the two engines in terms of performance?

N55 is a bit better in the lower rev ranges, N54 better in the upper.

scarecrow said:

Guessing the twin turbo N54 is more tuneable.

Yes.
Stronger bottom end as well, cast in the N55, forged in the N54.